Rural Unemployment Jumps Pushing Overall Jobless Rate To 7.8% In June

India's overall unemployment rate rose to 7.80 per cent in June, from 7.12 per cent in May, according to the latest data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy's (CMIE).

The maximum decline in employment opportunities was registered in rural areas, with the unemployment rate in rural India jumping to 8.03 per cent in June, from 6.62 per cent in the prior month.

That offset the decline in urban jobless rate last month to 7.30 per cent, from 8.21 per cent in May, underscoring a broader trend since the start of the year of more opportunities in Indian cities compared to rural areas.

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"The rise in unemployment in the agriculture sector is due to seasonal factors. At this time, the sowing of kharif season is starting and at this time every year the unemployment increases a bit, said Dr Nitya Nand, Director and Economist at the Council for Social Development. 

"But the urban unemployment (rate) has decreased, it's a positive thing. In my view, the unemployment rate in June 2022 is higher than in June 2019 which is a matter of concern. In my view, we have not yet come out of the impact of COVID-19," added Dr Nand.